Cleveland Cycling Update

Something About Cleveland in Urban Velo #40 helped shine a light on what’s up in the cycling world in the home of the Browns. Refresh your memory, and then check out this update from contributor Joe Baur.

Following a slew of critical examinations of Cleveland cycling infrastructure—rather the lack thereof—the City of Cleveland is finally taking action with the approval of Bike Cleveland, the city’s premiere bike advocacy organization.

This past January, the City of Cleveland announced a plan that prioritizes the implementation of bicycle facilities by aligning priority bikeway routes with their Capital Improvement Plan. In total, the City of Cleveland plans to install 70 miles of bikeways over the next four years, adding much needed infrastructure to the city’s paltry 47.5 unconnected miles that currently exist.

Adding to the excitement of cycling in Cleveland is the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission’s recent announcement of their inaugural NEOCycle event taking place September 27 and 28. The event is billed as “an urban cycling festival consisting of competitive races and unique rides connected by live entertainment and an interactive, action-filled festival at Cleveland Metroparks Edgewater Park on the shores of Lake Erie.”

Races and rides include a criterium, a night ride, fundo, cyclocross, and laps at the velodrome. City partners believe this could become Cleveland’s signature event, like SXSW in Austin or Bonnaroo in Tennessee.

Back to the City’s cycling plans; the goal is ultimately to connect every neighborhood in the City of Cleveland with safe and accessible bikeways. The important missing piece, however, is what type of bikeways will be developed—painted lanes, cycle tracks or the much-maligned “sharrows” that advocates, backed by research, say does little to increase cycling traffic.

“As the number of people riding bikes, either by choice or necessity, continues to grow across Cleveland, it is important to balance the needs of all users,” says Bike Cleveland Executive Director Jacob VanSickle. “We look forward to working with the City on identifying the bikeway types that will create a truly world-class bikeway network in Cleveland.”

City Reports

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Urban Velo is a reflection of the cycling culture in current day cities. Our readers are encouraged to contribute their words and art.

Urban Velo is published fives times per year, on the even months (we skip the February issue). Issues are available for free download as they become available, with high resolution copies available for iPad purchase. Print copies are available for purchase online and at select bicycle retailers and like minded establishments across the country.